Method and device for banding textile articles with labels

Abstract

The invention proposes a method for banding textile articles with labels, comprising the steps of feeding the article into a receiving unit, holding the article in the receiving unit and stretching it in its longitudinal direction, feeding the label to the article, wrapping the label around the article and fixing the ends of the label. There is further proposed a device for banding a textile article with labels, where the article is initially fed into a receiving unit comprising gripper elements, that can be moved one relative to the other, for gripping the article by its two outer lengthwise ends and for stretching the article in its longitudinal direction. The device further comprises a label feeding unit for feeding a label in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the article to a central area of the article, between its two ends, as well as a device for wrapping the label around the article and for fixing the ends of the label.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for banding elastic articles with labels, comprising the steps of: feeding the article into a receiving unit;   holding the article in the receiving unit and stretching it in its longitudinal direction;   feeding the label to the article;   wrapping the label around the article;   fixing the ends of the label.   
     
     
       2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the label is glued together by its two ends to form a closed banding. 
     
     
       3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein a self-adhesive label is used that sticks to the article. 
     
     
       4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the article placed in the receiving unit is gripped, and stretched, by its two outer ends in lengthwise direction, outside the area around which the label is wrapped later. 
     
     
       5. A method for banding textile articles with labels, comprising the steps of: feeding the article into a receiving unit;   holding the article in the receiving unit by its two outer lengthwise ends;   feeding the label to the article;   wrapping the label around the article in a central area between its two ends; fixing the ends of the label.     
     
     
       6. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of: positioning the label with one of its ends on a first strap below the article, and with a second end on a second strap;   fixing a central area of the label, between its two ends, to the article;   pivoting the first strap around the article in clockwise direction, about a pivot axis extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the article, in order to wrap the first end of the label tightly around the article, by causing the first end of the label so slide off along the first strap;   pivoting the second strap around the article in counter-clockwise direction, about a pivot axis extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the article, in order to wrap the second end of the label tightly around the second side of the article, by causing the first end of the label to slide off along the second strap.   
     
     
       7. The method as defined in claim 6, further comprising the steps of: positioning the label with a first end on a first strap below the article, and with a second end on a second strap;   pressing the central area of the label, between its two ends, against the article;   pivoting the first strap around the article in clockwise direction, about a pivot axis extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the article, in order to wrap the first end of the label tightly around the article, by causing the first end of the label so slide off along the first strap;   pivoting the second strap around the article in counter-clockwise direction, about a pivot axis extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the article, in order to wrap the second end of the label tightly around the second side of the article, by causing the first end of the label to slide off along the second strap.   
     
     
       8. The method as defined in claim 7, wherein the first strap is held on a first outer end of a first bracket during the pivoting movement around the article, while the first band slides along the second end of the first bracket, forming the pivot axis, under tension applied thereon in order to thereby wrap the first end of the label in clockwise direction tightly around the article. 
     
     
       9. The method as defined in claim 7, wherein the second strap is held on a first outer end of a second bracket during the pivoting movement around the article, while the second band slides along the second end of the second bracket, forming the pivot axis, under tension applied thereon in order to thereby wrap the second end of the label in counter-clockwise direction tightly around the article. 
     
     
       10. The method as defined in claim 8, wherein a first bracket having a concave cross-section is used for pivoting the first strap. 
     
     
       11. The method as defined in claim 10, wherein a first bracket having a substantially U-shaped cross-section is used for pivoting the first strap. 
     
     
       12. The method as defined in claim 9, wherein a second bracket having a concave cross-section is used for pivoting the second strap. 
     
     
       13. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein a second bracket having a substantially U-shaped cross-section is used for pivoting the second strap. 
     
     
       14. A method for banding elastic articles with labels, comprising the steps of: feeding the article into a receiving unit;   holding the article in the receiving unit and stretching the article;   feeding the label to the article and gluing one end of the label to the article;   turning the article about its longitudinal axis, in order to tightly wrap the label around the article under tension;   fixing the ends of the label.   
     
     
       15. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein the article placed in the receiving unit is gripped, and stretched, by its two outer ends in lengthwise direction, outside the area around which the label is wrapped later. 
     
     
       16. A device for banding elastic articles with labels, comprising: a receiving unit for receiving the articles, said receiving unit having gripper elements, movable one relative to the other, for gripping the article at its two outer lengthwise ends and for stretching the article in its lengthwise direction;   a label feeding unit for supplying a label to a central area of the article, between its two ends, in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the article;   means for applying the label around the article and for fixing the ends of the label.   
     
     
       17. The device as defined in claim 16, further comprising: a first strap and a second strap being arranged one behind the other in one horizontal plane;   a first bracket having a first outer end to which one end of the first strap is fixed, and a second end by which it can pivot about a first pivot axis, the first strap having its second end guided and stretched over the second end of the first bracket;   a second bracket having a first outer end to which one end of the second strap is fixed, and a second end by which it can pivot about a second pivot axis extending in parallel to the first pivot axis, the second strap having its second end guided and stretched over the second end of the first bracket;   a feeding unit for feeding the article into a position above the first and second straps and for transferring it to the gripper elements;   the label feeding unit being designed to feed a label to the two straps to a position above the two second ends of the two brackets.   
     
     
       18. The device as defined in claim 17, wherein a space is provided between the first and the second straps, within which a vertically movable ram is provided for pressing the label against the article from below. 
     
     
       19. The device as defined in claim 18, wherein the ram can be subjected to the action of compressed air. 
     
     
       20. The device as defined in claim 17, wherein the first bracket has a concave cross-section. 
     
     
       21. The device as defined in claim 20, wherein the first bracket has a substantially U-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
       22. The device as defined in claim 17, wherein the second bracket has a concave cross-section. 
     
     
       23. The device as defined in claim 22, wherein the second bracket has a substantially U-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
       24. The device as defined in claim 17, wherein the first and the second brackets consist of a plastic material with good sliding properties. 
     
     
       25. The device as defined in claim 17, wherein the first and the second brackets are tensioned over the second ends of the brackets by means of spring elements.